Self-contained waler clamp assembly for concrete wall form

ABSTRACT

An inseparable waler clamp assembly for convenient manual application to the protruding end of a tie rod for securely clamping either a single or a dual waler hard against the outer side of a series of upstanding and edge-to-edge wall form panels. In one form of the waler clamp assembly, the design thereof is such that it will accommodate attachment to a flat tie rod.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS United States Patent m mm Im e mm W a mMd nd w aa mam mm wu CC SW6 &4 M9 awn UH .mim m mmo mxN 26 E l 51 WM 40Gum mnm PAA a 9 rl.. m 9 9-3 S m lnrl 5, 00. s nms a oMu 8 JSD 0. 0 N mn w PHI-3S AFPA 11]] I253 2247 [ill [54] SELF-CONTAINED WALER CLAMPASSEMBLY FOR CONCRETE WALL FORM ABSTRACT: An inseparable waler clampassembly for con- '249/2l9, venient manual application to the protrudingend of a tie rod 25/l3lT for securely clamping either a single or adualwaler hard [504g 17/00 against the outer side of a series ofupstanding and edge-to- 249/219, edge wall form panels. in one form ofthe waler clamp as- 219 (N), 216, 215,213; 25/131 (T), (CM), (CP),sembly, the design thereofis such that it will accommodate attachment toa flat tie rod.

m mm m mm W" "n a" u mm mm 6 5 II -1 sm m .mr Mm a '0 m mm is 1U .mF N mH mm PATENTEUJUNISIQYI 35 4 sum 1 OF 4 INVEN TOR JAMES C. SHOE/MAKER AHorney PATENTED JUN1 51971 3584;829

sum 2 OF 4 7 INVENTOR JAMES C. SHOEMAKER By L; I, A r I am e y PATENTEI]JUN] s 1971 3; 5841829 SHEET 3 OF 4 INVENTOR HOE/MAKER n %'h9 A Horn eyF I 6'. I2

JAMES c. 5

FIG. II

PATENTEH Jun. 5 I971 sum u 0F 4 IN VEN TOR JAMES C. SHOE/MAKER By 7%.wwfizag g A rrarney SELF-CONTAINED WALER CLAMP ASSEMBLY FOR CONCRETE WALLFORM relationship and are adapted to have wet concrete poured into thespace between them, the two form sides being connected together byhorizontally and transversely extending combined tie rod and spreaderdevices so that they are properly held in place and prevented fromoutward bulging or displacement under the pressure of the wet pouredconcrete. The invention is particularly concerned with a novelwaler-clamping bracket assembly which may conveniently, and with verylittle manipulation, be applied to the protruding end of a tie rod onone side of the form and hooked in position thereon and against theadjacent plywood panel so that, in combination with similarly positionedidentical clamping bracket assemblies at other spaced regions along theone side of the concrete wall form, it serves loosely to receive asingle or a dual waler thereon, after which, by a single impact blow,the assembly may be tightened against the waler so that it will draw thesame hard against the adjacent plywood panel.

While there are currently in use a substantially large number ofdifferent waler-clamping assemblies or devices which effectively performthe function for which they are intended, varying degrees of skill arerequired for their manipulation in their operative positions.lnvariably, such assemblies or devices involve the use of both hands,and in some instances, they can best be applied by the joint efforts oftwo workmen, one to manipulate the clamping devices and the other toguide the walers into position. The present invention obviates thesedifficulties by providing a relatively simple three-piece waler-clampingbracket assembly which, after assembly at the factory, remains as aninseparable self-contained unit. In the field, a workman equipped with anumber of these self-contained waler-clamping bracket assemblies maywalk along-the concrete wall form so that, in passing and with the useof only one hand, he may easily and rapidly hook the bracket assembliesin position on the adjacent protruding ends of the tie rods whichproject from the adjacent side of the form. Thereafter, the initiallypositioned bracket assemblies assume positions orpostures where they mayloosely receive thereon a horizontal board-type single or dual waler,after which the workman may make a second pass along the adjacent sideof the concrete wall form in order successively tighten the clampingassemblies against the waler and draw the latter hard against the form.If a dual waler consisting of upper and lower waler boards is to beinstalled upon the concrete wall form, the initial application of thebracket assemblies to the adjacent protruding tie rod ends remains thesame but a slight variance in installing the two sets of waler boards onthe brackets is resorted to, all in a manner that will be described indetail presently.

Ease of application into operative condition constitutes one of theprincipal features of the present invention and, by reasons of it, acompletely novel method of waler application to a form is made possible,the method being applicable with but slight modification to varioustypes of waler constructions such, for example, as single board walersplaced in end-to-end relationship, dual board walers consisting of twotiers with the boards of each tier similarly placed in end-to-endrelationship,

or staggered board walers where the waler boards have over- 7 lappingends.

The provision of a waler-clamping bracket assembly which is simple inits construction any may, therefore, be manufactured at a low cost; oneof which is rugged and durable and, therefore, will withstand roughusage; one which is repeatedly useable in successive concrete wall forminstallations; one which is fashioned entirely of sheet metal stampingsthereby further contributing to low cost; and one which otherwise iswell adapted to perform the services required of it, are furtherdesirable features which have been borne in mind in the production anddevelopment of the present invention.

The invention consists in the several novel features which arehereinafter described and are more particularly described and are moreparticularly defined by the claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the accompanying four sheets of drawings forming a part of thisspecification, two illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved waler-clamping bracketassembly of the present invention, the assembly being designed for usein connection with a flat tie rod;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the wedge which is employed inconnection with the invention and forms a component or part of theimproved waler-clamping bracket assembly;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational'view of one of the component parts of thebracket assembly, showing the same in a detached condition;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views, schematic in their representation,illustrating the manner in which the bracket assembly may be manuallyapplied to the protruding end of a flat tie rod;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a limited portion of aconcrete wall form, showing a pair of the improved waler bracketassemblies operatively applied thereto and serving to I support a singlewaler board;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view of thestructure of FIG. 6 and showing the bracket assembly prior to tighteningthereof;

FIG. 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG.6 and showing the improved waler-clamping bracket assemblies inwaler-supporting relationship and after final tightening thereof againstthe waler;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one end ofa tie rod which is useable inconnection with the improved waler bracket assembly in connection withthe single waler board installation of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 6 butillustrating the manner in which the waler-clamping bracket assembly ofthe present invention serves to support a so-called dual waler;

FIG. 11 is a vertical transverse section view of the structure of FIG.10, showing the bracket assembly prior to tightening thereof;

FIG. 12 is a section taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 10 and showing thewaler-clamping bracket assembly in waler-supporting relationship andafter final tightening of the assembly against the dual waler;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 9 but showingthe protruding end of a tie rod which is useable in connection with thedual waler installation of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIGS. 6 and 10 butillustrating the manner in which the waler-clamping bracket assembly isused for supporting a so-called staggered board waler;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating aslightly modified form of the invention wherein the waler-clampingbracket assembly is designed for use in connection with a tie rod or tiewire of the type which is commonly referred to as a button head tie; and

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the waler-clamping bracketassembly of FIG. I5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIGS. 6 and7, a fragmentary portion or an erected concrete wall form ofconventional or standard construction is illustrated therein. Theconcrete wall form is made up of an upstanding front side 12 and anupstanding rear side 14, the two sides being spaced apart and adapted tohave wet concrete poured therebetween, as is well understood in the art,for wallforming purposes. Each form side consists of a rectilinearseries of rectangular plywood panels 16 which are disposed inside-bypside or edge-to-edge relationship. The panels of the two sidesare maintained in spaced parallel relationship by means of a horizontalseries of spaced-apart conventional tie rods 18 which preferably, butnot necessarily, are formed of flat tie rod stock and have longitudinalslots 20 formed in the end regions thereof. The slots 20 are adapted forcooperation with the waler-clamping bracket assemblies of the presentinvention in a manner that will become clear when the nature of theassemblies has been fully set forth hereafter. Spacer washers 22 areslidably disposed on the end portions of the tie rods so that when suchend portions of the tie rods are projected through the usual aperturesor slots 24 in the plywood panels 16 during erection of the concretewall form, these washers will bear at their outer sides against theinner surfaces of the panels and at their inner sides against respectivepairs of offset tongues 26 for wall form spreading purposes. Theoffsetting of the tongues 26 of the tie rods 18 establishes breakbacks28 which remain embedded in the hardened concrete so that the protrudingend portions of the tie rods may be broken off by working the same backand forth or by twisting the same to fracture the tie rods at theregions of the breakbacks 28 in a manner well known in the artl No claimis made herein to any particular novelty in the tie rods 18 exceptinsofar as they cooperate with the waler-clamping bracket assemblies ofthe present invention. Other forms of tie rods including wire orrod-type tie rods having looped ends and other forms of break backs areavailable for use in connection with the present invention. v

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, wherein the presentaler-clamping bracket assembly is disclosed in detail, the bracketassembly is in the form of a three-part unit which is designated in itsentirety by the reference numeral 30. This clamping bracket assembly iscomprised of a supporting bracket 32, a wedge 34 and a sliding thrustmember of plate 36. The bracket 32 of the three-part assembly 30 isgenerally of C-shaped configuration and includes an upper leg 38, alower leg 40 and an intermediate flat web or bight portion 42. One sidemargin of the outer region of the upper leg 38 of the bracket 32 isformed with a laterally facing relief area 44 which establishes areentrant hook 46 at the outer extremity of said upper leg 38. The upperleg 38 of the bracket 32 is formed or provided with a relatively largerectangular opening 50 near the base or inner end region thereof and thelower leg 40 is provided with a similar but slightly larger rectangularopening 52. The two openings 50 and 52 are in vertical alignment and aredesigned for reception therethrough of the wedge 34 as illustrated inthe drawings.

The wedge 34 is formed of stamped plate metal and is U shaped intransverse cross section, it being provided with flat sides 54 and aconnecting flat base 56. As clearly shown in FIG. 1, the wedge is oftapered channel shape design and has its large end disposed upwardly.The width of the opening 52 is slightly greater than the width of theopening 50 and the length of the opening 52 is greater than the lengthof the opening 50 by an extent substantially equal to the thickness ofthe metal of the thrust plate 36 so as to compensate for a portion ofthis plate which projects through the opening 52 in a manner and for apurpose that will be subsequently set forth. The lower outer cornerregions of the two sides 54 of the wedge 34 are fonned with small coinedcars 58 which may pass freely through the opening 52 in the lower leg 40of the bracket but which are unable to pass through the opening 50 inthe upper bracket leg 38. The overall transverse dimensions of the wedge34 in the upper regions thereof are greater than the correspondingdimensions of the upper opening 50 so that the wedge is unable to passdownwardly completely through the opening 50. By the same token, thesmall coined ears 58 prevent the wedge from passing upwardly completelythrough the opening 50, and thus, the wedge is effectively captured bythe supporting bracket 32 and, hence, cannot become disassociated fromit. However, the coined ears 58 are so designed and positioned on thewedge 34 that when the wedge is pulled upwardly to the fullest extent ofwhich it is capable of moving, it may be caused to rest in the inclinedposition in which it is shown in FlGS. 4 and 5, the wedge thus servingas a lifter or manipulator, much in the manner in which a circular ironstove lid is supported from its lifting handle. As best illustrated inFIG. 2, the rear inclined edges of the two sides 54 of the wedge 34 areformed with vertical or noninclined sections which are designated by thebracket in this figure. These noninclined sections of the edges, ineffect, render the wedge uniform in thickness in a fore-and-aftdirection and serve a function that will be set forth subsequently.

The thrust plate 36 is in the form of a length of flat plate metal stockand embodies a horizontal thrust leg 60 the rear end of which is formedwith a reverse or C-shaped bend 62 which provides or forms a reentrantsection 64.

The reverse bend 62 passes through the opening 52 in the lower leg 40 ofthe bracket 32 and as a result the horizontal thrust leg 60 of thethrust plate 36 rests upon said lower leg 40 while the reentrant section64 underlies this leg in close proximity thereto. The medial region ofthe thrust leg 60 is provided with a downwardly punched circulardepression 66 which forces the metal of the leg downwardly to provide adepending protuberance 68. This protuberance projects into an elongatedlongitudinally extending slot 70 (see FIG. 1) which is formedin themedial region of the lower leg 40 of the supporting bracket 32, thusproviding an interlock which limits the extent of fore-and-aft slidingmovement of which the thrust plate is capable, the interlock and reversebend 62 also serving to maintain approximate alignment of the thrust leg60 and the underlying reentrant section 64. The forward end region ofthe thrust member 36 is formed with a downturned bearing flange 72 whichis adapted to bear against the outer side of the adjacent wall formpanel 16 when the waler-clamping bracket assembly is installed thereon.

The above described waler-clamping bracket assembly 20 is capable of usein a wide variety of concrete wall form installations having upstandingpanels, several such installations being illustrated in the drawings. lnFIGS. 5 to 8, inclusive, the waler-clamping bracket assembly is shown asbeing operatively applied to a single waler board W for the purpose ofmaintaining the latter in a horizontal position with one edge thereofbearing directly against the outer sides or faces of the adjacentplywood panels 16, it being understood, of course, that pluralwaler-clamping bracket assemblies will cooperate with one another forwaler-supporting and clamping purposes, two of the assemblies appearingin FIG. 6. It will also be understood that cooperating pairs ofwaler-supporting and clamping assemblies will be employed on oppositesides of the wall form for common attachment to the slotted ends ofrespective tie rods 18.

The nature of the final application of each waler-clamping bracketassembly 30 in the wall form may best be appreciated by an understandingof the manner in which such application is made. It will be understoodthat prior to application of the bracket assemblies 30 to the concretewall form, the two sides 12 and 14 will be erected in their properspaced relationship and the various tie rods 18 will be projectedthrough the slots 24 in the plywood panels 16 so that their end regionswill project outwardly beyond the form sides to expose the slots 20 inthe tie rods 18 for cooperation with the respective walerclampingbracket assemblies 30. Considering now the application of only one ofthe bracket assemblies to one end of a tie rod 18, the operator willraise the wedge 34 from the position in which it is shown in FIG. 1until the two small coined ears 58 engage the portions of the upper leg38 that define the sides of the rectangular opening 50, after which hewill incline the wedge until it assumes the position shown in FIG. 4, sothat by supporting the wedge with one hand, the supporting bracket 32may be guided in a horizontal plane to position the hook 46 so that itregisters with the slot 20 in the tie rod 18. Thereafter, by moving theassembly to the left as viewed in FIG. 4, the hook will enter the slot20 and, at that time, the operator may release his grip on the wedge,thus leaving the entire assembly in the position in which it isillustrated in FIG. 5. At this time, the weight of the waler-clampingbracket assembly 30 will cause the hook 46 to engage the outer end oftheslot 20 in the tie rod 18 while the downturned bearing flange 72 willbear or abut against the outer face of the adjacent plywood panel 16 andforce the slidable thrust member 60 rearwards with respect to thesupporting bracket 32 until the depending protuberance 68 engages therear end of the slot 70 in the lower leg 40 ofthe supporting bracket asshown in FIG. 8. The outer end of the slot 20 will thus constitute, ineffect, an inwardly facing reaction shoulder which assimilates theoutward thrust that is exerted by the hook 46 when the bracket assembly30 is thus hung, so to speak, from the outer end of the tie rod 18.Theoperator will then proceed along the form and make similarapplication of other waler-clamping bracket assemblies to otherprotruding end portions of the various tie rods 18 at remote locationsin the same horizontal plane. After all of the waler-clamping bracketassemblies 30 along the front side 12 of the concrete wall form havethus been installed on their respective tie rods, the single waler boardW will be caused to rest upon the upper edges of the protruding portionsof the tie rods as shown in FIG. 8, and as shown in dotted lines inFIGS.

' As soon as the waler board W is in place, the operator will pushforwards the upper end of the inclined wedge 34 of each waler-clampingbracket assembly 30, i .e., toward the wall form, and at the same timeforce it downwardly so that the extreme lower end of the wedge will movebehind the reverse bend 62 of the thrust plate 36 and force the latterbodily forwardly as the lower end of the wedge enters the rectangularopening 52. Thereafter, the operator with the blow of an impact toolsuch as a hammer will drive the wedge to its home position wherein it isshown in FIG. 7. In such position of the wedge, the thrust plate 36remains under compression with the downturned bearing flange 72 bearingagainst the outer face of the adjacent plywood panel 16 and with the tierod 18 under tension, it being assumed, of course, that the opposingwaler-clamping bracket assembly on the opposite'side of the concretewall form has been previously and similarly applied. The waler board Witself will be securely clamped between the upper portion of the wedge34 and the outer face or side of the adjacent panel 16.

' Removal of the waler-clamping bracket assembly is effected by areversal of the procedure outlined above, the wedge being initiallyloosened by an upward blow of the impact tool.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the presentwaler-clamping bracket assembly facilitates large scale multipleapplication of a waler installation on a concrete wall form, theoperator being able to traverse the length of the form in one directionin order initially to apply the bracket assemblies to the protrudingends of the tie rods 18 and then to traverse the length of the form inthe opposite direction with his impact tool to drive all of the wedgessuccessively to their home positions.

In FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 14, the present waler-clamping bracket assemblyis shown as being installed in a concrete wall form installation whichemploys a dual waler in the form of an upper waler board W2 and a lowerwaler board W3. Again, as was the case in connection with the previouslydescribed installation of FIGS. 5 to 8, inclusive, the nature of theinstallation can best be ascertained by a description of theinstallation procedure which is involved. The wall form assembly remainssubstantially the same as that previously described with the exceptionthat vertical studs which are designated by the reference numeral 25 arepositioned against the outer faces of the plywood panels 116 of thefront side 112 of the concrete wall form and the two waler boards W2 andW3 are positioned against these studs in bridging relationship. Becauseof the greater distance which the waler-clamping bracket assemblies mustbe spaced from the outer surfaces of the panels 116 due to the width ofthe studs 25, the end portions of the tie rods 118 which extend beyondthe breakbacks 128 are longer than are the corresponding end portions ofthe tie rods 18. Other- 6 wise, the tie rods 118 remain substantiallythe same as the tie rods 18, and in order to avoid needless repetitionof description, similar reference numerals but ofa higher order areapplied to the corresponding parts as between the disclosures of FIGS.10 to 13, inclusive, and FIGS. 6 to 9, inclusive. The dependingdownturned bearing flanges 72 on the waler-clamping brackets are adaptedto bear against the outer sides of the strongbacks 25 instead ofdirectly against the outer faces of the plywood panels and, therefore,due to the greater lengths of the tie rods 118, the slots 120 aredisposed in proper positions so that the operator may effect the initialsinglehanded manual hooking of the bracket assemblies that was describedin connection with the disclosures of FIGS. 3 and 4. According to onemethod of installation, after the various bracket assemblies 30 havebeen thus hooked or applied to the projecting end regions of the tierods 118 with the hooks 46 projecting through the slots 120 in the tierods 118, and the wedges 34 have been moved to assume the positionsillustrated in FIGS. 4, the lower waler boards W3 may be threadedthrough the supporting brackets 32 so that it rests upon the slidablethrust plates 36 and is thus supported indirectly from the lower legs 40of the supporting brackets 32. The upper waler board W2 is then causedto rest upon the adjacent protruding portions of the tie rods 118 aspreviously described in connection with the application of the singlewaler board W. With Y both waler boards W2 and W3 thus in position andthe parts of each bracket assembly assuming the positions in which theyare shown in FIG. 11, the wedge 34 is then successively swung towardsthe concrete wall form and driven downwardly through the opening 52 inthe lower leg 40 as heretofore described and the wedge is thus caused tobear inwardly against the outer sides of both waler boards as shown inFIGS. 10 and 11, thus forcing the waler boards W2 and W3 hard againstthe panel reinforcing studs 25.

An alternative and somewhat simpler method of installing a dual waler onthe form side 112 may be carried out by first manually placing the lowerboards W3 against the studs25 with the left hand and then by utilizingthe right hand slipping the bracket 32 of an assembly 30 over the boardin straddling relationship near the middle of the board. Thereafter, theoperator carries out the hooking operation by causing the hook 46 toenter the slot 120 in the adjacent protruding end of the tie rod 118.Upon manual release of the waler-clamping bracket assembly and the lowerwaler board.W3, the board will be captured by the bracket assembly, andfurthermore, it will be substantially balanced thereon by reason of itssupport on the thrust plate 36. The operator is then free to makesimilar loose application of the other waler clamping bracket assembliesto remote regions of the lower waler board W3 and to their respectivetie rods 118. After all of the bracket assemblies have thus been looselyapplied to the form side 112 and to the lower waler board W3, the upperwaler board W2 will be placed in position on the bracket assemblies 30in the manner previously described in connection with the placement ofthe single waler board W. When both waler boards W2 and W3 are inposition as shown in FIG. 12, impact tightening of the wedges 34 may beresorted to so that both waler boards W2 and W3 will be forced hardagainst the various studs 25. v

The wedge section 55 which is of uniform thickness in a fore-and-aftdirection as previously described is provided for the purpose ofpreventing binding of the wedge against the lower waler board W3 in theevent that manufacturing tolerances are exceeded so that such lowerboard is appreciably wider than its rated width. In the absence of thesection 55, there would be a tendency for the wedge to bind against theboard W3 at the expense of full pressure being applied to the upperwaler board W2 by the upper region of the wedge 34. Conversely, in theevent of an unduly wide upper waler board W2, binding of the wedgeagainst such board would prevent adequate pressure from being applied tothe rear end of the thrust plate 36 by the wedge when the latter isdriven to its home position. The section 55 also facilitates looseningof the wedge during dismantlement or release of the waler-clampingbracket assembly.

No illustration is made herein of the application of the presentwaler-clamping bracket assembly to a dual waler when the studs 25 areomitted and the upper and lower waler boards bear directly against theouter faces of the panels 16 of the concrete wall form. It is believedthat the nature of such an ap plication will be obvious since it ismerely necessary to employ the shorter tie rods 18 instead of the longertie rods I18. The absence of the strongbacks 25 will obviously bring thehooks 46 of the upper legs 51 of the supporting brackets 32 of thewaler-clamping bracket assemblies closer to the wall form where thesehook portions will register horizontally with the tie rod slots 20.

In FIG. 14 a further application of the present waler-clamping bracketassembly 30 is illustrated. Heretofore, where single waler boards havebeen employed in connection with a form side, it has been necessary tofit adjacent waler boards together so that they are disposed incontiguous or abutting end-to-end relationship. A conventionalwaler-clamping bracket of one sort or another is then applied to bothboards so that it straddles the seam" between adjacent abutting boardends. Both adjacent ends of the boards are thus securely clamped inposition. Otherwise, one or both boards would present loose ends.According to the method of waler installation shown in FIG. 14, it isnot necessary to cut or fit the waler boards together and fairly wideseparation between the adjacent opposed waler board ends may betolerated. This results in an appreciable saving of lumber and laborcosts since random lengths of boards may be used as waler boards withoutnecessitating cutting lumber on the job to predetermined lengths.

As shown in FIG. 14, utilizing similar reference numerals of a stillhigher order to designate the corresponding form parts as between thedisclosures of FIGS. and 14, where the opposing ends of the two upperwaler boards W4 and W5 fail to meet, a short filler section in the formof a length of waler stock W6 is applied to the two illustratedwalerclamping bracket assemblies 30 in the manner described inconnection with the lower waler board W3 of FIG. 10. The short walerboard W6 underlies and bridges the split or separation between theopposed ends of the upper waler boards W4 and W5 and rigidifies theentire waler assembly against outward bulging in the vicinity of theseparation. It is deemed unnecessary to describe the specificapplication of the waler-clamping bracket assemblies 30 to the walerboards W4, W5, and W6 since the placement of these assemblies withrespect to the waler boards is precisely the same as the placement ofone of the assemblies 30 on the upper and lower waler boards W2 and W3ofFIGS. 10, I1 and 12.

It is deemed pertinent at this point to state that in dismantling any ofthe installations previously described, as soon as an upward impact blowis imparted to the wedge 34 of any given assembly 30, the wedge will beloosened in the vertically aligned openings 50 and 52 and the forwardpressure exerted by the wedge against the reentrant bend 62 in thethrust plate 36 will be relieved. The pressure of the thrust plate 36against the adjacent panel I6 or the adjacent studs 25, as the case maybe, will also be relieved so that the various tensional andcompressional forces existing in the various parts of the walerclampingbracket assembly 30 as a while will be alleviated and the entireassembly will assume a loose condition where it may readily be liftedfrom the adjacent wall form side. In the absence of the thrust plate 36,the extreme compressional force which is inherent in the lower leg 40 ofthe supporting bracket 32 will cause binding of the assembly withconsequent extreme difficulty in removing the same from theinstallation.

Whereas in FIGS. 1 through 14, the illustrated walenclamping bracketassembly 30 is designed for use in connection with a flat tie rod 18, inFIGS. and 16 of the drawings there is shown a slightly modified form ofwaler-clamping assembly 230 which is specifically designed for use inconnection with a tie rod or tie wire 218 of the button head type. Dueto the similarity between the bracket assemblies 30 and 230, and inorder to avoid needless repetition of description, similar referencenumerals but ofa higher order have been applied to the correspondingparts as between the disclosures of FIGS. 15 and 5.

As clearly shown in FIG. 15, the bight portion 242. The reentrantsection 264, and the thrust plate 236 remain identical to the bightportion 42. The reentrant section 64, and the thrust plate 36respectively of the assembly 30. Only the character of the upper leg 238has been changed, this change being for the purpose of enabling theassembly 230 to accommodate attachment thereof to a conventional buttonhead tie rod 218. This tie rod is formed of cylindrical rod stock andthe breakbacks 228 are in the form of a small flattened areas or flats(see FIG. I6). The end extremities ofthe tie rod 218 are provided withbuttonlike enlargements 220 and the upper leg 238 is designed forhooking engagement with the adjacent enlargement.

Accordingly, the hook 46 in the upper leg has been eliminated, andinstead, this leg is made longer and is reversed upon itself to providea reentrant bend 245, a reentrant section 247 and a downward flange 249,the latter being welded I at 251 to the upper face of the leg 238. Ahorizontal slot 246 extends partially across the reentrant bend 245 and,in effect, establishes a hook portion which is capable of being hookedbehind the adjacent buttonlike enlargement 220 of the tie rod 218.

The wedge 234 remains the same as the wedge 34 and is similarly providedwith noninclined sections 255 corresponding to the noninclined sections55 ofthe wedge 34.

The operation of the walerclamping bracket assembly 230 is believed tobe obvious without detailed description, suffice to say thatmanipulation of the assembly 230 is accomplished substantially in thesame manner which is employed in connection with the waler-clampingassembly 30. In FIG. 15, the bracket assembly 230 is shown as beingshaped or designed for immediate cooperation with the enlargement 220 onthe adjacent end of a tie rod 218 so that upon movement of the assemblybodily to the left, the slot 246 or hook portion of the bracket 232 willstraddle the tie rod 218 and encompass the adjacent enlargement 220 withthe parts assuming the positions in which they are shown in FIG. 16. Thewedge 234, the openings 250 and 252 and the thrust plate 236, beingidentical with the wedge 34, the openings 50 and 52, and the thrustmember 60 respectively, are capable of identical manipulation from thetime of initial grasping of the wedge 234 for lifting and guidingpurposes until the hooked engagement with the tie rod 218 has beeneffected and the wedge 234 driven to its home position wherein the waleror walers, as the case may be, is or are clamped securely against theadjacent wall form side.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of partsshown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification asvarious changes in the details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Neither isthe invention to be limited to the several environments in which it isdisclosed herein. For example, although the waler-clamping bracket 30 isshown and described in FIGS. 1 through I4 as being applied to a flat tierod such as the rod 18, it is obvious that the hook 46 which is providedat the outer or forward end of the upper leg 38 of the bracket 32 iscapable of being engaged with the looped end ofa cylindrical tie rod orwith the projecting end of any tie rod in a wall form installation whichpresents a slot, hole or other opening through which the hook 46 may beprojected. Similarly, the waler-clamping bracket 230 which, forexemplary purposes, is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 as being applicable to abutton-head-type tie rod 230, is capable of cooperating with theprojecting end of any tie rod which presents an enlargement at or nearits outer end or a rearwardly facing reaction shoulder capable ofentering the hook portion or horizontal slot 246 in the reentrant bend245 at the outer end of the upper leg 238 of the bracket 232. Therefore,only insofar as the invention is particularly pointed out in theaccompanying claims is the same to be limited.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by letters patent is:

l. A three-piece waler-supporting and clamping bracket assembly designedfor attachment to a horizontal tie rod one end of which projectsoutwardly from one side of a concrete wall form and has a slot therein,said bracket assembly comprising a U-shaped bracket having upper andlower horizontal legs and a connecting bight portion, the distal end ofsaid upper leg being provided with a reentrant hook designed forprojection through the slot in the projecting one end of the tie rod,there being vertically aligned upper and lower openings in said legsrespectively near the base portions thereof, a thrust plate slidable onsaid lower leg and having its forward end region overhanging the distaledge of the latter and its rear end region overhanging an edge of thelower opening, the extreme forward end of the thrust plate beingengageable with the outer surface of the form side when said hook is inposition within the tie rod slot, and a tapered wedge projectingvertically through said aligned upper and lower openings and adaptedwhen driven downwardly to have the upper portion thereof above saidupper leg bear against the outer side of a waler board for forcing thelatter forwardly and against the form side, and the lower portionthereof bear against the rear overhanging end of the thrust plate inorder similarly to force the latter forwardly and against the form side,said lower portion of the wedge being further adapted to bear againstthe outer side of a second waler board for forcing the latter forwardlyand against the form side.

2. A three-piece waler-supporting and clamping bracket assembly as setforth in claim 1 and wherein the overall dimension of the upper end ofthe wedge is greater than the overall dimension of one of said openingsand the overall dimension of the lower end of the wedge is greater thanthe overall dimension of one of said openings whereby the wedge isinseparably captured by the bracket.

3. A three-piece waler-supporting and clamping assembly as set forth inclaim 2 and wherein the upper and lower openings are generallyrectangular in configuration, the tapered wedge is substantiallyrectangular in transverse cross section, the longitudinal and transversedimensionsof the lower end of the wedge being appreciably less than thecorresponding dimensions of either of said openings, and the side edgesof the wedge adjacent to the lower end thereof are provided withlaterally projecting protuberances which engage the side edges of theupper opening and prevent upward removal of the wedge from the bracketproper while allowing the wedge to be inclined outwardly with respect tothe form side to facilitate placement of a waler board in position abovesaid upper leg, said wedge, when so inclined, serving as a liftinghandle for manipulation of the bracket assembly when inserting said hookthrough the tie rod slot.

4. A three-piece waler-supporting and clamping bracket assembly as setforth in claim 1 and wherein the portion of the slidable thrust platewhich overhangs the edge of said lower opening is formed with a reversebend which projects through said latter opening and a reentrant portionwhich underlies said lower leg whereby the slidable thrust plate iscaptured by said bracket proper.

5. A three-piece waler-supporting and clamping bracket assembly as setforth in claim 4 and wherein the forward overhanging end region of thethrust plate is formed with a downwardly turned bearing flange designedfor engagement with the outer surface of the form side.

6. A three-piece waler-supporting and clamping bracket assembly as setforth in claim 5 and wherein said wedge is formed of a flat plate metalstock bent to channel-shape cross section with its bight portionpresented forwardly toward the distal ends of the upper and lower legs.

7. A three-piece waler-supporting and clamping bracket assembly as setforth in claim 5 and wherein the thrust plate and lower leg of thebracket proper are provided with interengaging means for limiting theextent of sliding movement of the former on the latter.

8. A three-piece waler-supporting and clamping bracket assembly as setforth in claim 7 and wherein said interengaging means on the thrustplate and lower leg comprises a downwardly projecting protuberance whichis formed on the thrust plate and projects into a slot formed in theunderlying portion of the bracket.

9. A three-piece waler-supporting and clamping bracket assembly as setforth in claim 1 and wherein the tapered wedge is provided with a medialsection of limited vertical extent and of uniform thickness in a foreand aft direction and designed for sliding contact with the rear edge ofthe lower opening in the lower leg of the bracket and the rearoverhanging end of the thrust plate when the wedge is driven downwardlyand approaches its waler-clamping position.

10. A waler-supporting and clamping bracket assembly designed forattachment to a member which projects outwardly from one side of aconcrete wall form and has a longitudinally extending slot therein, saidbracket assembly comprising a U-shaped bracket having upper and lowerhorizontal legs and a connecting bight portion, the distal end of saidupper leg being provided with a reentrant hook designed for projectionthrough the slot in said member, there being vertically aligned upperand lower openings in said legs respectively near the base portionsthereof, and a tapered wedge projecting vertically through said alignedupper and lower openings and adapted when driven downwardly to have theupper portion above said upper leg bear against the outer side of awaler board for forcing the latter against said one side of the concretewall form and the lower portion thereof similarly bear against the outerside of a second waler board which is interposed between said upper andlower legs for forcing the latter waler board against said one side ofthe concrete wall form.

11. A waler-supporting and clamping bracket assembly designed forattachment to a horizontal tie rod one end of which projects outwardlyfrom one side of a concrete wall form and has a longitudinally extendingslot therein, said bracket assembly comprising a U-shaped bracket havingupper and lower horizontal legs and a connecting bight portion, thedistal end of said upper leg being provided with a reentrant hookdesigned for projection through the slot in the projecting one end ofthe tie rod, there being vertically aligned upper and lower openings insaid legs respectively near the base portions thereof, and a taperedwedge projecting vertically through said aligned upper and loweropenings and adapted when driven downwardly to have the upper portionabove said upper leg bear against the outer side of a waler board forforcing the latter against said one side of the concrete wall form andthe lower portion thereof similarly bear against the outer side of asecond waler board which is interposed between said upper and lower legsfor forcing the latter waler board against said one side of the concretewall form, the overall dimension of the upper end of the wedge beinggreater than the overall dimension of one of said openings and theoverall dimension of the lower end of the wedge being greater than theoverall dimension of one of said openings whereby the wedge isinseparably captured by the bracket.

1. A three-piece waler-supporting and clamping bracket assembly designedfor attachment to a horizontal tie rod one end of which projectsoutwardly from one side of a concrete wall form and has a slot therein,said bracket assembly comprising a U-shaped bracket having upper andlower horizontal legs and a connecting bight portion, the distal end ofsaid upper leg being provided with a reentrant hook designed forprojection through the slot in the projecting one end of the tie rod,there being vertically aligned upper and lower openings in said legsrespectively near the base portions thereof, a thrust plate slidable onsaid lower leg and having its forward end region overhanging the distaledge of the latter and its rear end region overhanging an edge of thelower opening, the extreme forward end of the thrust plate beingengageable with the outer surface of the form side when said hook is inposition within the tie rod slot, and a tapered wedge projectingvertically throuGh said aligned upper and lower openings and adaptedwhen driven downwardly to have the upper portion thereof above saidupper leg bear against the outer side of a waler board for forcing thelatter forwardly and against the form side, and the lower portionthereof bear against the rear overhanging end of the thrust plate inorder similarly to force the latter forwardly and against the form side,said lower portion of the wedge being further adapted to bear againstthe outer side of a second waler board for forcing the latter forwardlyand against the form side.
 2. A three-piece waler-supporting andclamping bracket assembly as set forth in claim 1 and wherein theoverall dimension of the upper end of the wedge is greater than theoverall dimension of one of said openings and the overall dimension ofthe lower end of the wedge is greater than the overall dimension of oneof said openings whereby the wedge is inseparably captured by thebracket.
 3. A three-piece waler-supporting and clamping assembly as setforth in claim 2 and wherein the upper and lower openings are generallyrectangular in configuration, the tapered wedge is substantiallyrectangular in transverse cross section, the longitudinal and transversedimensions of the lower end of the wedge being appreciably less than thecorresponding dimensions of either of said openings, and the side edgesof the wedge adjacent to the lower end thereof are provided withlaterally projecting protuberances which engage the side edges of theupper opening and prevent upward removal of the wedge from the bracketproper while allowing the wedge to be inclined outwardly with respect tothe form side to facilitate placement of a waler board in position abovesaid upper leg, said wedge, when so inclined, serving as a liftinghandle for manipulation of the bracket assembly when inserting said hookthrough the tie rod slot.
 4. A three-piece waler-supporting and clampingbracket assembly as set forth in claim 1 and wherein the portion of theslidable thrust plate which overhangs the edge of said lower opening isformed with a reverse bend which projects through said latter openingand a reentrant portion which underlies said lower leg whereby theslidable thrust plate is captured by said bracket proper.
 5. Athree-piece waler-supporting and clamping bracket assembly as set forthin claim 4 and wherein the forward overhanging end region of the thrustplate is formed with a downwardly turned bearing flange designed forengagement with the outer surface of the form side.
 6. A three-piecewaler-supporting and clamping bracket assembly as set forth in claim 5and wherein said wedge is formed of a flat plate metal stock bent tochannel-shape cross section with its bight portion presented forwardlytoward the distal ends of the upper and lower legs.
 7. A three-piecewaler-supporting and clamping bracket assembly as set forth in claim 5and wherein the thrust plate and lower leg of the bracket proper areprovided with interengaging means for limiting the extent of slidingmovement of the former on the latter.
 8. A three-piece waler-supportingand clamping bracket assembly as set forth in claim 7 and wherein saidinterengaging means on the thrust plate and lower leg comprises adownwardly projecting protuberance which is formed on the thrust plateand projects into a slot formed in the underlying portion of thebracket.
 9. A three-piece waler-supporting and clamping bracket assemblyas set forth in claim 1 and wherein the tapered wedge is provided with amedial section of limited vertical extent and of uniform thickness in afore and aft direction and designed for sliding contact with the rearedge of the lower opening in the lower leg of the bracket and the rearoverhanging end of the thrust plate when the wedge is driven downwardlyand approaches its waler-clamping position.
 10. A waler-supporting andclamping bracket assembly designed for attachment to a member whichprojects outwardly from one side of a concrete walL form and has alongitudinally extending slot therein, said bracket assembly comprisinga U-shaped bracket having upper and lower horizontal legs and aconnecting bight portion, the distal end of said upper leg beingprovided with a reentrant hook designed for projection through the slotin said member, there being vertically aligned upper and lower openingsin said legs respectively near the base portions thereof, and a taperedwedge projecting vertically through said aligned upper and loweropenings and adapted when driven downwardly to have the upper portionabove said upper leg bear against the outer side of a waler board forforcing the latter against said one side of the concrete wall form andthe lower portion thereof similarly bear against the outer side of asecond waler board which is interposed between said upper and lower legsfor forcing the latter waler board against said one side of the concretewall form.
 11. A waler-supporting and clamping bracket assembly designedfor attachment to a horizontal tie rod one end of which projectsoutwardly from one side of a concrete wall form and has a longitudinallyextending slot therein, said bracket assembly comprising a U-shapedbracket having upper and lower horizontal legs and a connecting bightportion, the distal end of said upper leg being provided with areentrant hook designed for projection through the slot in theprojecting one end of the tie rod, there being vertically aligned upperand lower openings in said legs respectively near the base portionsthereof, and a tapered wedge projecting vertically through said alignedupper and lower openings and adapted when driven downwardly to have theupper portion above said upper leg bear against the outer side of awaler board for forcing the latter against said one side of the concretewall form and the lower portion thereof similarly bear against the outerside of a second waler board which is interposed between said upper andlower legs for forcing the latter waler board against said one side ofthe concrete wall form, the overall dimension of the upper end of thewedge being greater than the overall dimension of one of said openingsand the overall dimension of the lower end of the wedge being greaterthan the overall dimension of one of said openings whereby the wedge isinseparably captured by the bracket.